Reports have emerged, alleging that troops at the Texas border have committed “inhuman” acts against migrants. Things like inhumane treatment, dangerously preventing border crossing, and an array of other negative actions.
Preventing illegal border crossings by Texas state officials could potentially cause harm to migrants and children, including injuries from razor-sharp wires or the risk of drowning. A state trooper and medic, Nicolas Wingate said state officials received orders to hold on to drinking water and push migrants back into the Rio Grande.
The trooper also gave an internal complaint about the inhuman practices.
The allegation.
Nicolas sent an email detailing the situations he witnessed in Eagle Pass, Texas, which is also where Governor Abbott’s most aggressive efforts are taking place.
Additionally, the office of Abbott released a statement in response to the email, clarifying that they gave no instructions to the troopers that could pose a threat to the safety of migrants.
According to their statement, denying access to essential tools and strategies would increase the likelihood of migrants attempting illegal border crossings. They also said some federal officials refuse to protect the border.
Nicolas also stated the wire is making the chance of drowning higher by pushing migrants into deeper parts of the river. He also said, “I believe we have stepped over a line into the inhumane. We need to utilize it accurately in the eyes of God.”
In Texas, law enforcement officers should patrol areas with wire to ensure they can identify any migrants who may be in distress. Wingate stressed the importance of having adequate lighting in certain areas to avoid possible accidents, like tripping or getting caught up in wires.
With these inhuman allegations, it’s only a matter of time before more and more migrants drown or die from other causes.
The inhuman practices that are taking place.
Many inhuman acts are taking place at the border even now, and most of them will never come to light.
The email that was leaked by Nicolas also remarked they denied a breastfeeding mother water along with children. This is just the beginning of the inhumanity that is taking place.
Another example is the 19-year-old who became trapped in razor-sharp wire and experienced the agony of a miscarriage. A 4-year-old girl collapsed from the heat.
There was a father who sliced his leg open due to the wire while he tried to save his son from an underwater trap. The horrible conditions caused a young boy to pass out to heat illness and dehydration.
Texas Officials Order Troops to Use Force
Supervisors told Nicolas to push a group of campers back into the Rio Grande. The encampment consisted of 120 migrants which were full of mothers, fathers, and children. Nicolas and other troop members pushed the migrants back into the water to go back into Mexico. During that time, the temperature was 108 degrees.
Additionally, those migrants were hungry, tired, thirsty, and already on U.S. soil. However, they were not welcomed into the States. Instead, the only thing that was done was them being pushed back into the Rio Grande.
Another case was a 15-year-old male who broke his right leg after he and his father tried to cross the river because of the razor-sharp wire that officials set up. Many of the migrants end up with broken bones, cuts, and other injuries, saying it is inhuman is an understatement. Many feel it has strayed further inhuman.
The situation will only get worse and worse without changes to the intense security of the border and it just might become even more inhuman.
By Samuel Cruz
Sources:
LA Times: Texas trooper alleges ‘inhumane’ practices against migrants at the border
CBS News: Texas trooper alleges inhumane treatment of migrants by state officials along southern border
KSBY: Texas trooper alleges ‘inhumane’ treatment at Southern border
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of John Fowler Flickr Page–Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Jason Lawrence Flickr Page–Creative Commons License
